Well it's the two channel debate so what the heck: on the CD transport tonight at KevinF Towers is Jaqueline du Pre's two channel EMI recording of Haydn and Boccherini cello concertos.

A bit like Marmite I think.

So that we avoid provoking the measurists into having simultaneous thrombies, let's leave aside that it's playing here through a mostly Audio Note system, and concentrate solely on du Pre's playing. Mawkish or sublime?

I vote for sublime. And if you're reading this and haven't heard it, do go and buy a copy. It's life enhancing.

But the du Pre performance that totally blows me away are the Bach solo cello suites 1 & 2 - recorded by EMI in 1962 when she was a young lass of 17. The sound quality is kind of ancient, but the miraculous performance shines through regardless.

I've been quite disappointed with the sound quality of Du Pre cds I've bought. Has anyone compared the CDs to the original vinyl? I would love to get hold a nice box set like the Favourite Cello Concertos or Recital on vinyl to try but they go for too much for something I have no real idea of the condition of.

Also anyone know if the complete box set has an improved sound quality to the earlier CDs - I read somewhere it has been remastered...?

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The CDs on the box set are variable, some are from live events, most from studio. On the whole I've found the chamber music to be pretty good while I don't listen much to the orchestral stuff. I have much of the chamber music on vinyl and I also have the Favourite Concertos box set from years ago (though it probably hasn't had a play in decades). Which recordings is it you don't like the sound of?